Essential guide to learning german online
Passionate, intense, strong... all these adjectives describe the Germanic language. It is a very interesting language, but at the same time it is complicated to learn, especially for Spanish speakers. Why? Because, unlike Italian or French, German does not belong to the Romance languages, but to the Indo-European family.
In recent years, German has become one of the most important languages to learn. Many schools have chosen to teach German as a foreign language in addition to English. This is due to the great importance it has gained in recent times.
German is spoken by more than 100 million people, most of them in Europe.This is because it is the official language of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, part of Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, among others. Surprisingly, 16% of the European population speaks German.
If you want to join those 100 million German speakers, Classgap is your solution. Register on our platform and get access to the grid of German teachers. Enjoy all the benefits of learning a new language from home. Don't wait any longer and book your German lesson online now.
The advantages of studying German
Speaking a language gives us a better understanding of the culture and history of a country. German gives us the opportunity to understand the mentality of German-speaking countries and to better appreciate their way of life. Switzerland's policy of neutrality, Austria's low unemployment rate, the historical role of the Habsburgs in European countries...
There are many advantages to learning German. Here are some of the benefits of studying German:
- To work abroad:
The range of professional possibilities opens up when you speak German, whether in companies in Germany, Switzerland, Austria or any other country, as it is likely to have business connections with a German-speaking country. There are many areas in need of skilled workers, and many companies offer jobs and finance German language studies. Many of the headquarters of European institutions, such as the European Central Bank or EIOPA, are located in these countries.
- To have access to information:
In the modern world we are living in, where all the necessary information is just a few mouse clicks away, knowing German will open up a world of possibilities and new information. After English, German is the most widely spoken language on the Internet and in the scientific world. But not only many scientific and technological texts are in German, there are also philosophical, journalistic and cultural texts in German.
- For Germanic culture
Speaking German will also allow you to enjoy cinema with directors such as Fassbinder, Herzog and Emmerich, and films such as The Lives of Others, Run Lola Run or Good Bye Lenin. You can also enjoy the works of Goethe, Schiller, Kafka or contemporaries such as Hertha Müller, Elfriede Jelinek, Günter Grass or Sven Regener, whose jokes and winks cannot be understood without knowing German culture and language.
- For travelling:
If you enjoyed the Grimm Brothers' fairy tales, how about getting to know the fantastic cities and towns that inspired them? If you know German you can soak up the culture and get a better understanding of what led the brothers to create their fictional world. If you speak German, you'll also be able to travel more comfortably, try all the typical dishes and drinks you want to try and communicate with everyone.
- To understand the history of Germany:
The history of this country has been so troubled in recent times that it has acquired great relevance worldwide. Today, Germany continues to play a leading role in world politics, especially in Europe, but this is thanks to the weight of its economic power, which has earned it the nickname of the "Engine of Europe".
Surely some of these advantages have convinced you to start the adventure of learning German. Register with Classgap and discover all the benefits of online German lessons with your ideal teacher.
Tips for learning German vocabulary
It is common to think that it takes years of study to speak German. Surprisingly, you can learn German faster than people think, as it has many similarities to English. The two languages share words that sound and mean similar things.
If you are sure you want to learn German, but don't know where to start, we recommend that you begin by studying the simplest vocabulary and gradually increase the difficulty.
Here are 8 simple tips to get you started with German:
- Basic vocabulary: let's start with a simple trick. Every day you should learn groups of 10-15 words that correspond to the same semantic family, such as food, objects, transports... Some words have similarities with English, so if you know English it will be a little less difficult.
- Context of the words: try to connect them in a way that makes sense and makes it easier for you to remember them. A little trick is to associate them with pictures. Learning a new word in a context that gives it meaning is essential for internalizing its meaning. Using your new word integrated in an example, or together with other words that may accompany it is necessary.
- Grammatical genders: you must know how to classify words as masculine, feminine or neuter. There are tricks for learning the genders, such as writing down the words with their gender in a colour that represents it.
- Prepositions: prepositions may seem like simple words... However, German is a location-focused language, so the structure of its prepositions is much more complicated than that of Spanish. But don't let a few simple prepositions scare you off: find out in which case these prepositions are used.
- Watch series and films in German: this is a good way to pay attention to pronunciation. You can find clips such as the film The Wave or the series Dark on Netflix.
- Reading in German: this is the best way to learn and understand how sentences are structured in German. Start with simple texts and gradually increase the difficulty.
- Take advantage of new technologies: The media are a great ally of the language learner.Thanks to the Internet, you can make the most of German resources: when you are just starting out, you can watch simple videos on YouTube or read a German newspaper.
- Talk to other people: there is no better way to put what you have learned into practice than by talking to a native speaker or someone who knows the language very well.A very good option is to choose a German teacher from Classgap, who will teach you how to pronounce and give you good tips to keep improving.
The fact that a language is difficult to start using does not make it any less interesting and fun to learn. We at Classgap would like to encourage you to start learning German and register on our platform. Are you ready to start?
How to choose a teacher
German is not usually the first language that comes to our minds when we think of learning a new language. If you want to learn the German language, we are sure that you have a good reason to do it, but what is it? Apparently this does not seem to be the most important thing, but you should take it into account, above all, to know which online German teacher you should choose.
There are many reasons: work, cultural, personal, etc. When you choose a teacher on our platform, you must decide whether you want them to be native or bilingual. Both options are acceptable, as they all have experience and professional training.
Don't know which teacher best fits your needs? Don't worry, we will help you choose:
- Work-related reasons:
The main reason why people want to learn this language is work. Your job opportunities will increase a lot if you decide to start learning German. German-speaking countries are considered to be the driving force of Europe and have states such as Austria or Switzerland with one of the lowest unemployment rates.
Of course, if you want to work there, you will need to know their language. A native teacher is the best option, they usually have a better knowledge of vocabulary and can help you develop better in the world of work. Also, no one knows their culture better, and they can give you a lot of advice if you decide to move there.
Maybe you don't want to move, but you would like to work for a German multinational company based in your country. Spain is one of the most popular destinations for Germans, so learning the German language will be a great way to work in the tourism and hospitality industry. Knowing the German language will be a great advantage in finding a job.
- Personal or cultural reasons:
If you are not looking for a job, your motives may be personal, cultural, educational or you just like to travel. Are you passionate about German culture? Germanic artistic production goes beyond the Pied Piper of Hamelin or the pair of paintings of Adam and Eve by the German Albrecht Dürer. Beethoven, Wagner and Bach proved that this language was the language of music.
Germany's recent history is also often one of the main reasons why people want to learn German. So when you travel to these countries, you can better understand their way of life and culture. What better way to do this than with a bilingual teacher, who knows the obstacles to learning the language and can give you tips on how to avoid them.
Whatever the reason, the important thing is that you find your ideal teacher at Classgap. Register on our platform and enjoy the advantages of learning with a native speaker or even a teacher living in Berlin. What are you waiting for? Book your German class now.
German lessons on Classgap
Classgap is the ideal platform if you want to take German lessons online. In contrast to face-to-face lessons, online training does not depend on pandemic restrictions and has many advantages. You will be able to study safely and enjoy all the tools of the platform. With our resources, you will see how the class is easier and you will get a closer and more complete feeling.
Do you want to know how Classgap works? It is very easy to use, just follow these steps:
- Once you have registered, you will have to search the list of German teachers.
- Use the filters to select what you are most interested in: if you want a native speaker or not, the price you want to pay, the timetable you want…
- Once you have found the one you like best, you can book the class. Many teachers have a 20-minute free trial, so take advantage of this and present your objectives to see if they are the right person to help you achieve them.
- When the class starts, you will have the option of accessing the virtual classroom. There you will find all kinds of tools to make your online classes complete. The virtual whiteboard, chat, the option to share documents, links or files…
- Once the class is over, you will be able to leave a comment about the class, this way you will help other users who are interested in the same teacher.
- If you have any doubts or problems, don't hesitate to ask, our Customer Service team will solve them.
Furthermore, on our platform, we have integrated all the functions and tools you need for your online private lessons in a virtual classroom. Don't wait any longer and register with Classgap to find your online German teacher. Learn a new language without leaving home - start today!